ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
APEDA organizes 1st Product Committee Meeting for Floriculture, Seeds and Cereals meeting
In another milestone under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, India achieved impressive growth in cereals exports in the 1st three quarters of 2020-21, despite challenges posed by COVID19 pandemic. Cereals exports grew by close to 53% to Rs 49,832 crore in Apr – Dec 2020-21, compared a year ago period.
Basmati rice exports grew by 5.31% to Rs 22,038 crore while the non-Basmati segment witnessed a spike in exports by 122.61% to Rs 22,856 crore. Wheat exports rose by 456% to Rs 1,870 crore, while exports of other cereals like millet and maize grew by 177% to Rs 3,067 crore. Cereals have a share of 48.61% in the total exports under the APEDA basket. Overall exports of Cereal Products from the country continue to do well.
The 1stProduct Committee meeting for Floriculture, Seeds and Cereals was held on 3rd February 2021 and was Chaired by Dr. M. Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA. The meeting was joined by the Dr. Shatrughan Pandey, APEDA Authority Member, Mr. Chetan Singh, APEDA Authority Member, Dr. CharuduttaDgambarroMayee, APEDA Authority Member and Senior Officers of APEDA.
The Committee deliberated on the issues related to export promotion of Cereal Products, Floriculture and Seeds and specifically on Non Basmati Rice and Millets, the Nutri Cereals.
Considering the potential of increasing exports of Rice (Basmati Rice and Non Basmati Rice, Millets and Millet products Floriculture and Seed, APEDA is closely interacting withTrade and preparing a perspective Action Plan for increasing export of Cereal Products, Floriculture and Seeds for a period five years i.e. 2021-2026 to enable all concerned stakeholders for taking necessary action in a time bound manner for achieving the target.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
OLD AGE HOMES
As per census 2011 report, there are 10.38 crore senior citizens in India. The data regarding number of destitute senior citizens in the country is not maintained in this Ministry. Assistance to the States for running old age homes is not provided by the Ministry. However, under the State Action Plan for Senior Citizens  , this Ministry provides funds to States/ UTs to improve the quality of life of the Senior Citizens, by encouraging productive and active ageing through the Institutions of the State/UT Governments/Non-Governmental Organizations / Panchayati Raj Institutions  / local bodies and the community at large.
This Ministry, under Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens  provides grants in aid to implementing agencies like NGOs/Societies/Trusts/Voluntary Organizations for maintenance of senior citizen homes to provide food, shelter, healthcare facilities etc. to indigent senior citizens. This Scheme also includes Continuous care homes, Mobile medical units and physiotherapy clinics. A total of 1,31,990 indigent senior citizens have been benefited under IPSrC during the current financial year, till date. Presently, 534 senior citizen homes under IPSrC are being assisted. The Scheme guidelines have been revised w.e.f. 01.04.2021 and a provision has been made for establishing a senior citizen home in each district.
The Ministry is also implementing a Central Sector Scheme namely Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana  under which free of cost assistive devices are provided to those senior citizens who suffer from age related disabilities/infirmities, and belong to BPL category. Since 2020-21, senior citizen who have a monthly income upto Rs. 15,000/- can also avail the benefit. During the current financial year, a total of 69,911 beneficiaries have been provided with assisted living devices, till date.
This information was given by the Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Two Day International Stock Taking Conference on Tiger Conservation inaugurated in New Delhi
The 3rd Stock Taking Conference on Tiger Conservation was inaugurated in New Delhi today. Third in a series of Stock Taking Conferences, this is the second to be held in India after 2012 and is expected to have wide ranging discussions on the status of the Global Tiger Recovery Program  by the 13 tiger range countries besides deliberations on combating wildlife trafficking.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, who is also the Chairman of the National Tiger Conservation Authority said on the inauguration that conservation of tigers is a duty which has to be meticulously pursued and more innovative ways needs to be devised so that we can better the targets adopted by tiger range countries in 2010 at St. Petersburg, Russia. “The New India that we envisage is not only for humans but for every aspect including wildlife”, said Dr. Vardhan.
During the St. Petersburg declaration in 2010, tiger range countries had resolved to double tiger numbers across their range by 2022. At the time of deliberations at St. Petersburg, India’s tiger estimate stood at 1411, which after the third cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation, 2014 has nearly been doubled to 2226. This has largely been possible because of strides made against Key Performance Indicators , predominant among them being legislation to ensure protection of tiger habitat and enhancement of penalties, besides providing a statutory basis for inviolate space. The fourth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation, 2018 is currently under way.
This is the second stock taking conference to be held in India after 2012, wherein progress against resolution adopted by tiger range countries in 2010 at St. Petersburg, Russia, is measured against Key Performance Indicators  as decided by the said countries. Global and National Tiger Recovery Programs  were formulated by respective tiger range countries as a consequence of this historic decision.
During the 3rd Stock Taking Conference, wide ranging discussions shall be held on status of the Global Tiger Recovery Program  by all tiger range countries besides deliberations on combating wildlife trafficking. Best practices from tiger range countries especially India, shall also be presented. On the sidelines of the Stock Taking conference, India shall also hold a meeting with its neighboring tiger range countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan & Nepal to discuss a sub-continent level tiger estimation report as a followup of deliberations held earlier.
A major outcome of the Conference is expected to be course correction in strategies envisaged in GTRP/NTRPs which shall take tiger conservation forward to the intended goal as outlined in St. Petersburg.
The conference is being hosted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in close collaboration with the Global Tiger Forum which is an International, Intergovernmental Organization for conserving tigers in the world.
Ministry of Education
Union Education Minister addresses a Webinar on Gandhian Thought and Philosophy on the occasion of 150th Birthday Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' addressed a Webinar on Gandhian Thought and Philosophy organised by Jamia Millia Islamia today in association with the University of Oxford, UK. It was the first lecture in the Webinar series on Gandhian Thought and Philosophy. This webinar series is in sync with the University Grants Commission’s proposal to celebrate 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi to disseminate Gandhian Thought and Philosophy in intellectual circles.Prof.NajmaAkhtar,ViceChancellor was also present on the occasion.
In his inaugural address Shri Pokhriyal said that the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is being celebrated across the world. He congratulated Jamia Milia that it is continuously growing since its inception in 1920 while following the principles of Mahatma Gandhi, a person who gave his full support in its establishment.The whole world is realising the importance of the Gandhian philosophy and his principles of truth, love, humility and non violence particularly when it is going through tough time.Gandhi's relevance is well known. There is no part of life where Gandhi's ideas do not seem relevant. Gandhiji's thoughts guide us on many aspects like truth, peace, non-violence, sustainable development, environment protection, value-based education etc.
The Minister said that students today have the opportunity to learn a lot from Gandhiji's life that how students can contribute in nation-building. Today every citizen of the country can benefit from Gandhi's thoughts and philosophy to make the country self-sufficient.
He also mentioned about JMI’s continuous better performance in different educational fields. He particularly mentioned about JMI’s performance in civil services and Hackathon organised by his Ministry recently.
Ministry of Defence
15th India-Israel Joint Working Group meeting in Tel Aviv
India-Israel Joint Working Group  on Bilateral Defence Cooperation has agreed to form a Task Force to formulate a comprehensive Ten-Year Roadmap to identify new areas of cooperation.
This was decided at the 15th JWG meeting held on October 27, 2021 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar and the Director General of the Israel’s Ministry of Defence, Maj Gen  Amir Eshel.
The JWG is the apex body between the Ministry of Defence of India and Israel’s Ministry of Defence to comprehensively review and guide all aspects of Bilateral Defence Cooperation.
The two sides reviewed the progress made in Military to Military engagements including exercises and industry cooperation. The Co-chairs were also appraised on the progress made by the Sub Working Groups  on Defence Procurement & Production and Research & Development.
It was also decided to form a SWG on Defence Industry Cooperation and in this regard a Terms of Reference was signed between the two sides. The formation of this SWG would enable efficient utilisation of bilateral resources, effective flow of technologies and sharing industrial capabilities. It was also decided to schedule the Service level Staff talks in a specific time frame.
It was agreed to hold the next JWG in India on mutually convenient dates.
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Ministry of Labour & Employment
Cabinet approves Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana 
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for Atmanirbhar Bharat RojgarYojana  to boost employment in formal sector and incentivize creation of new employment opportunities during the Covid recovery phase under Atmanirbhar Bharat Package 3.0.
Cabinet has approved an expenditure of Rs. 1,584 crore for the current financial yearand Rs.22,810 crore for the entire Scheme period i.e. 2020-2023.
The salient features of the Scheme are as under:
- Government of India will provide subsidy for two years in respect of new employees engaged on or after 1st October, 2020 and upto 30th June, 2021
- Government of India will pay both 12% employees' contribution and 12% employers' contribution i.e. 24% of wages towards EPF in respect of new employees in establishments employing upto 1000 employees for two years,
- Government of India will pay only employees' share of EPF contribution i.e. 12% of wages in respect of new employees in establishments employing more than 1000 employee for two years.
- An employee drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who was not working in any establishment registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation  before 1st October, 2020 and did not have a Universal Account Number or EPF Member account number prior to 1stOctober 2020 will be eligible for the benefit,
- Any EPF member possessing Universal Account Number  drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who made exit from employment during Covid pandemic from 01.03.2020 to 30.09.2020 and did not join employment in any EPF covered establishment up to 30.09.2020 will also be eligible to avail benefit,
- EPFO will credit the contribution in Aadhaar seeded account of members in electronic manner,
vii. EPFO shall develop a software for the scheme and also develop a procedure which is transparent and accountable at their end.
- EPFO shall work out modality to ensure that there is no overlapping of benefits provided under ABRY with any other scheme implemented by EPFO.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
PARAMETERS TO QUALIFY UNDER PMAY-U
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs  is supplementing the efforts of States/Union Territories  by providing central assistance under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban  'Housing for All' Mission since 25.06.2015 to provide ‘pucca’ house with basic amenities to all eligible urban beneficiaries. As on 10.07.2023, out of 118.90 lakh houses sanctioned under PMAY-U, 112.22 lakh have been grounded for construction; of which 75.31 lakh had been completed and delivered to beneficiaries.
The scheme period, which was earlier upto 31.03.2022, has since been extended upto 31.12.2024, except CLSS vertical, to complete all the houses sanctioned without changing the funding pattern and implementation methodology.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Kaushal Kishore, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Coal
Imported Coal
About 80% of coal produced domestically is supplied to power sector. Some TPPs  are designed for exclusively using high GCV imported coal while other TPPs have also been importing coal for blending purposes for various reasons. In order to address increased coal requirements following recent surge in power demand, Ministry of Power issued an advisory on 28.04.2022 for power plants to import 10% coal for blending purpose. Ministry of Power through its latest advisory dated 01.08.2022 to State Governments and State GENCOs and IPPs has decided that now onwards, States/IPPs and Ministry of Coal may decide the blending percentage after assessing the availability of domestic coal supplies. Through another advisory of 01.08.2022 to NTPC and DVC, the Ministry of Power has inter alia decided to direct the NTPC and DVC to bring down the blending percentage to 5% at Genco level and keep monitoring the situation closely.
Domestic coal is supplied to GENCOs at notified prices except IPPs and are revised only periodically. On the other hand, the international price of coal varies frequently based on demand supply situation, shipping and logistic considerations and other international factors. In recent times, the international price of coal has shot up steeply. Various Central GENCOs, State Governments and State GENCOs are involved in the import of coal each year and the rates at which they import coal are not shared by them with the Ministry. However, overall coal import data obtained by Ministry of Coal from DGFT for past years shows that the average price/rate of imported coal is always higher than that of the domestic coal.
As per the advisory of Ministry of Power dated 28.04.2022, the import of coal could be made by the powerhouses through their own means or through coal import to be made by Coal India Limited . Accordingly, CIL was advised by Ministry of Coal to act as a central agency for import of coal for willing consumers. In terms of the above advisory of the Government, CIL floated open tenders for import of coal for the period from July’22 – June’23 for supply to the willing powerhouses and awarded the assignment to the successful L1 bidder through the aforesaid tender.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Defence
Guidelines for Awarding Ashoka Chakra
Following guidelines are laid down for awarding Ashoka Chakra:
- The Ashoka Chakra shall be awarded for most conspicuous bravery; or some act of daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice otherwise than in the face of the enemy.
- The persons eligible for the Ashoka Chakra shall be:
- Officers and men and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army, Militia and of any other lawfully constituted forces.
- Members of the Nursing Services of the Armed Forces.
- Civilian citizens of either sex in all walks of life and members of Police Forces including Central Para-Military Forces and Railway Protection Force.
The names of the persons to whom Ashoka Chakra has been awarded during the last three years and current year are as under:
|
|
Year|
|
Names of Ashoka Chakra Awardees
|
|
2016
|
|
1. Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami, 9th Battalion The Parachute
Regiment  
2. Havildar Hangpan Dada, The Assam Regiment/35th Battalion
The Rashtriya Rifles 
|
|
2017
|
|
NIL
|
|
2018
|
|
Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala, Indian Air Force  
|
|
2019
|
|
Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, Bar to Sena Medal, The Jammu and
Kashmir Light Infantry/34th Battalion TheRashtriya RiflesYear of announcement of award.
This information was given by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh in a written reply to Dr.Santanu Senin Rajya Sabha today.
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Ministry of Women and Child Development
Expansion of NCW
The details of funds allocated to National Commission for Women  during the last three years and expenditure incurred thereon by the Commission are as under:

|
|
Year
|
|
Budget Estimate 
|
|
Revised Estimate 
|
|
Expenditure incurred
|
|
2018-19
|
|
24.00
|
|
24.00
|
|
22.78
|
|
2019-20
|
|
25.00
|
|
25.00
|
|
23.95
|
|
2020-21
|
|
26.00
|
|
21.88
|
|
20.98
State Commissions for Women  are set up by the respective State Governments / Union Territories  and are not subordinate to NCW. They do not function under administrative control of either Ministry of Women and Child Development  or NCW. Funds are allocated to the SCWs by the respective States/ UTs.
The expenditure incurred by NCW vis-a-vis budget allocation shows that funds allocation to the Commission is adequate to meet their requirements.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Dr. Harsh Vardhan addresses 4th Fit India Conclave 2021 on National Doctors Day
On the occasion of National Doctors Day, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare addressed 4th Fit India Conclave through video-conference today. The event was organised by Medscape India.
Union Minister of State for AYUSH, Shri Shripad Naik and Health Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Rajesh Tope Ji were present at the event.
His address can be viewed at:
The event was live-streamed at:
Ministry of Finance
DRI seizes 62 kg Heroin with estimated worth of Rs. 434 crore at Air Cargo Complex, IGI Airport, New Delhi
Continuing its crackdown on the trafficking in narcotic drugs, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence  has unearthed yet another novel modus operandi and affected seizure of 62 kg Heroin on 10.05.2022 after interdicting an air cargo consignment. This is one of the biggest seizures of Heroin till date through courier/ cargo/ air passenger modes in India.
In an operation code-named “BLACK & WHITE”, the DRI seized 55 kg of Heroin from an imported cargo consignment, which was declared to contain “Trolley Bags”. The offending cargo, originating from Entebbe in Uganda, had arrived at the Air Cargo Complex, Indira Gandhi International  Airport, New Delhi via Dubai. Swift follow up operations in two States, namely Punjab and Haryana, led to recovery of yet another 7 kg of Heroin and Rs. 50 Lakh in cash. The value of the 62 kg seized Heroin is estimated at Rs. 434 crore in the illicit market.
While the import consignment had 330 trolley bags, the seized Heroin was found to have been ingeniously concealed inside the hollow metal tubes of 126 trolley bags. The concealment was extremely difficult to detect.
The DRI officers have apprehended the importer of the offending consignment. Other suspects are also being interrogated. Further investigations are underway.
The year 2021 witnessed substantial seizures of Heroin across the country by the DRI. More than 3,300 kg of Heroin was seized during 2021. Further, since January 2022, DRI has affected significant seizures of Heroin including 34 kg from a container at ICD Tughlaquabad, New Delhi, 205 kg from a container at Kandla port and 392 kg of yarn  laced with Heroin at Pipavav port. In the last three months, multiple cases have also been booked, leading to seizure of more than 60 kg Heroin from air passengers.
Ministry of Defence
ADMISSION OF GIRLS IN SAINIK SCHOOLS
With effect from academic session 2021-22, Girl Cadets have been admitted in all existing 33 Sainik Schools. 312 girl cadets have been admitted in class 6th in existing 33 Sainik Schools w.e.f. 2021-22 session. Following are the details:
|
|
Sl No
|
|
Name of Sainik School
|
|
Number of Girl Cadets
|
|
-
|
|
Amaravathinagar
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Ambikapur
|
|
9
|
|
-
|
|
Amethi
|
|
6
|
|
-
|
|
Balachadi
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Bhubaneswar
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Bijapur
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Chandrapur
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Chhingchhip
|
|
9
|
|
-
|
|
Chittorgarh
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
East Siang
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Ghorakhal
|
|
9
|
|
-
|
|
Goalpara
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Gopalganj
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Imphal
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Jhansi
|
|
9
|
|
-
|
|
Jhunjhunu
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Kalikiri
|
|
9
|
|
-
|
|
Kapurthala
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Kazhakootam
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Kodagu
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Korukonda
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Kunjpura
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Mainpuri
|
|
6
|
|
-
|
|
Nagrota
|
|
8
|
|
-
|
|
Nalanda
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Punglwa
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Purulia
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Rewa
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Rewari
|
|
9
|
|
-
|
|
Sambalpur
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Satara
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Sujanpur Tira
|
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
Tilaiya
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
312
This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Shri Brijlal in Rajya Sabha on February 07, 2022.
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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 Vaccination Update
More than 25.60 Crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs
More than 1.17 crore doses still available with States/UTs to be administered
As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost. In addition, the Govt. of India has also been facilitating direct procurement of vaccines by the States/UTs. Vaccination is an integral pillar of the comprehensive strategy of Government of India for containment and management of the pandemic, along with Test, Track, Treat and COVID Appropriate Behaviour.
Implementation of the Liberalized and Accelerated Phase-3 Strategy of Covid-19 Vaccination has started from 1st May 2021.
Under the Strategy, in every month 50% of the total Central Drugs Laboratory  cleared vaccine doses of any manufacturer would be procured by Govt. of India. It would continue to make these doses available to the State Govts totally free of cost as was being done earlier.
More than 25.60 crore  vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far, through Government of India  and through direct state procurement category.
Of this, the total consumption, including wastages is 24,44,06,096 doses .
More than 1.17 crore  COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.
Furthermore, more than 38 lakh  vaccine doses are in the pipeline and will be received by the States/UTs within the next 3 days.